Pakistan didn't win, we lost against ourselves: Netherlands' pacer Paul Van Meekeren
Netherlands pacer Paul van Meekeren said his team lost against themselves in their narrow T20 World Cup defeat to Pakistan. The Dutch quick rued missed chances that could have potentially ended Pakistan's campaign early.
Netherlands pacer Paul van Meekeren said his side lost their T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan on Saturday due to poor execution in the closing overs, rather than their opponents earning the win. The fast bowler insisted the Netherlands were the better team for large parts but failed to finish clinically when it mattered.
The defeat also meant the Dutch missed a golden chance to potentially send Pakistan crashing out early. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Van Meekeren made it clear that the result was more about Netherlands losing against themselves than Pakistan winning.
T20 World Cup PAK vs NED: Highlights | Full Scorecard
“We deserved to win that game and should have potentially sent Pakistan home after today, so yeah it's a shame, but it is what it is," Van Meekeren said.
“I mean, we're a very close team, so obviously there are a few guys who are actually disappointed in the changing room, but we stand behind them, we back them all the way for the next game to turn it around, they don't even need to turn it around, just to be the best they can be and win the next game for us against Namibia," he added.
Van Meekeren himself played a key role in sparking Pakistan’s collapse, returning figures of 2/20. His spell included the wicket of the dangerous Sahibzada Farhan on 47 and a golden duck for Usman Khan, putting Pakistan under unexpected pressure.
“I'm very proud of the guys. I mean, I think we probably didn't get the runs on the board that we wanted, but to fight back after a strong start from Pakistan with the bat, it shows the culture that we've created in the team and the never-give-up attitude," he said.
“I want to be very clear, Pakistan didn't win the game today; we lost the game against ourselves. We were the better team today, especially in the bowling department, and we should have deserved to win that game," he added.
What happened in PAK vs NED?
Chasing 148, Pakistan looked in complete control early, reaching 90/2 at the halfway stage with the chase firmly on track. The required rate was manageable and the batting unit seemed set to cruise home.
However, the game flipped dramatically as wickets began to tumble in quick succession. Pakistan slipped from 90/2 to 114/7 in 16.1 overs, suddenly needing 34 more runs with the Netherlands sensing an upset.
Just when defeat appeared inevitable, Faheem Ashraf produced a late-overs blitz to drag Pakistan across the line. Pakistan eventually sealed the match by three wickets in a finish that swung wildly until the final moments.
How Pakistan escaped a potential knockout blow
The win was crucial for Pakistan, especially with the wider context surrounding their campaign. With the team having reportedly threatened to boycott their February 15 match against India, a loss on Saturday would have left their qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
Had Pakistan gone down against the Netherlands, their chances of reaching the Super 8 stage would have taken a major hit. The combination of dropping points, the possibility of forfeiting two points later, and the damage to their net run rate could have pushed them towards another painful early exit.
Instead, Pakistan survived, but Van Meekeren and the Netherlands were left rueing a missed opportunity in a match they believed they deserved to win.
T20 World Cup | T20 World Cup Schedule | T20 World Cup Points Table | T20 World Cup Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
Netherlands pacer Paul van Meekeren said his side lost their T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan on Saturday due to poor execution in the closing overs, rather than their opponents earning the win. The fast bowler insisted the Netherlands were the better team for large parts but failed to finish clinically when it mattered.
The defeat also meant the Dutch missed a golden chance to potentially send Pakistan crashing out early. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Van Meekeren made it clear that the result was more about Netherlands losing against themselves than Pakistan winning.
T20 World Cup PAK vs NED: Highlights | Full Scorecard
“We deserved to win that game and should have potentially sent Pakistan home after today, so yeah it's a shame, but it is what it is," Van Meekeren said.
“I mean, we're a very close team, so obviously there are a few guys who are actually disappointed in the changing room, but we stand behind them, we back them all the way for the next game to turn it around, they don't even need to turn it around, just to be the best they can be and win the next game for us against Namibia," he added.
Van Meekeren himself played a key role in sparking Pakistan’s collapse, returning figures of 2/20. His spell included the wicket of the dangerous Sahibzada Farhan on 47 and a golden duck for Usman Khan, putting Pakistan under unexpected pressure.
“I'm very proud of the guys. I mean, I think we probably didn't get the runs on the board that we wanted, but to fight back after a strong start from Pakistan with the bat, it shows the culture that we've created in the team and the never-give-up attitude," he said.
“I want to be very clear, Pakistan didn't win the game today; we lost the game against ourselves. We were the better team today, especially in the bowling department, and we should have deserved to win that game," he added.
What happened in PAK vs NED?
Chasing 148, Pakistan looked in complete control early, reaching 90/2 at the halfway stage with the chase firmly on track. The required rate was manageable and the batting unit seemed set to cruise home.
However, the game flipped dramatically as wickets began to tumble in quick succession. Pakistan slipped from 90/2 to 114/7 in 16.1 overs, suddenly needing 34 more runs with the Netherlands sensing an upset.
Just when defeat appeared inevitable, Faheem Ashraf produced a late-overs blitz to drag Pakistan across the line. Pakistan eventually sealed the match by three wickets in a finish that swung wildly until the final moments.
How Pakistan escaped a potential knockout blow
The win was crucial for Pakistan, especially with the wider context surrounding their campaign. With the team having reportedly threatened to boycott their February 15 match against India, a loss on Saturday would have left their qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
Had Pakistan gone down against the Netherlands, their chances of reaching the Super 8 stage would have taken a major hit. The combination of dropping points, the possibility of forfeiting two points later, and the damage to their net run rate could have pushed them towards another painful early exit.
Instead, Pakistan survived, but Van Meekeren and the Netherlands were left rueing a missed opportunity in a match they believed they deserved to win.
T20 World Cup | T20 World Cup Schedule | T20 World Cup Points Table | T20 World Cup Videos | Cricket News | Live Score